By: Mikaylia Patterson & Dani Gil
November 8, 2024
S4230006.MP4The Hispanic Student Alliance displays their cultures through project posters in Carver's gym for Back To School Bash on September 13, 2024. This event kicked off the start of a new school year for 24-25.
Last Year, Carver’s celebration of Hispanic heritage month consisted of Hispanic speakers in STEM, daily morning announcements highlighting different Hispanic figures in history, and posters representing the cultures of students in the Hispanic Student Alliance (HSA). This year only posters remain. The disconnect between this year’s celebration and last year’s is being questioned by students, wondering where the inclusiveness in Carver’s motto has gone.
In the 23-24 school year, Carver’s HSA took the initiative to create a celebration for Hispanic heritage month. The sponsor of the HSA, Mrs. Olmedo helped guide the events to celebrate the 11% now 11.4% of Carver’s population.
“Last year, we had students from the club who decorated the hallway, creating posters that represented their countries, or the countries of their family's background,” Olmedo said. “We had a potluck. We had announcements highlighting different people, different Latinos, in different areas, from sports to the arts to the sciences, to leaders, and to community leaders. We also had a speaker series where we brought in professionals in the STEM field to speak with our Hispanic students so they can see themselves represented in the various careers and professions that they might be interested in.”
However, students at Carver notice that last year’s initiative has dwindled, with only last year’s posters being left up. Students express how the lack of recognition for the month seems to cause the lack of celebration.
“It isn’t as recognized as other, big things at Carver.” says Naliel Candelas-Lopez, a Hispanic Carver student, and an HSA member.
This lack of recognition for Hispanic heritage month at Carver isn't a reflection of Philadelphia. As Hispanics make up 15.7% of our population in Philadelphia, the city has had several events and celebrations of Hispanic heritage around the city. Carver’s issue is, other overshadowing school events and the lack of student participation.
“ So this year, because of morning pathways and because of town halls and because of field trips back to school bash, back to school night, it was kind of difficult to plan accordingly. To bring different individuals of Hispanic heritage that are in STEM to Carver.” says Olmedo.
Student athletes Zion, Levi, Anthony, David, Masaki, and Eh leading there team in a volleyball match at Olney on April 11,2024
11th grade student Anthony Farfan explained that obligations like sports get in the way of participating in new activities like the HSA. Along with its lack of members it creates a hesitation with joining. The lack of time for after school activities doesn’t inherently mean the lack of interest in learning about Hispanic culture. Despite other obligations students still express an interest to join the HSA to learn more about the culture.
“ It would help me connect further with my culture,” said Lana Martinez another Hispanic Carver student, “I thought it’d be a cool experience."
The HSA’s meetings, occurring bi weekly on Thursdays have meetings with agendas to have conversation on the multitude of aspects of Hispanic culture.
Sanchez, Carver’s STEP Case Manager, highlights how they’ve had conversations highlighting the different discipline styles of Hispanic culture, and ones highlighting culture similarities like those in Hispanic cuisine.
Celebrations of cultural differences fuel the needed conversations to better understand each other. Especially in an ethnically diverse school such as Carver.
” If we don't ask those questions, if we don't seek that knowledge, then we start separating ourselves and alienating ourselves from each other, just simply because we don't understand.“ says Sanchez.
Carver, much like Philadelphia, has a Hispanic community that plays a significant and vital role to how things function, but Carver doesn’t have celebrations highlighting this fact like the city does.
The acknowledgement and celebration of Hispanic Heritage month at Carver would benefit everyone interacted with it, and all it needs is the initiative to be manifested.
Spanish teacher Mr. Rivera's display of flags in his classroom which acknowledges the variety of Hispanic countries that make up our Hispanic community.
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